Purpose: Access to water is essential for human existence. This project aims to provide access to clean, reliable drinking water utilizing environmental Best Management Practices (BMP’s) for people and nature.

Introduction

Water is vital to life and without access to clean water, we will never reach our full potential as human beings. Watershed Life Consulting, LLC is an environmental consulting firm who implements BMP’s to improve water quality and assists with providing access to clean, drinking water. Proven scientific methods such as BMP’s have been shown to clean up water and provide a reliable, clean drinking water source for humans. Also, access to clean water has been shown to improve the livelihoods of people and benefits the community so that people can live a full, prosperous life.

Methods

 Planting native vegetation: Native vegetation from the area we are working in will be planted around water supply pipes, wells, lakes, ponds, and nearby streams and rivers. This will help reduce contamination levels that can cause issues with drinking water as well as with aquatic life in those bodies of water. Soil amendments may be needed in dry areas especially in areas dealing with current drought conditions.

Riparian buffers: Install native trees and vegetation along streams and rivers where access to water is needed. These buffers will be set back at least 100 feet from the water’s edge when feasible. This will allow for contaminants to be filtered out by the roots of plants prior to entering the stream or river where the drinking water source is located. 

Rain gardens: Rain gardens will be installed with native vegetation near areas where stormwater runoff is an issue. This will allow for plant roots to filter out the runoff prior to getting into the stream or river where the drinking water source is located. 

Silt barriers: Silt barriers will be installed where siltation is an issue from current development projects. Silt barriers will help keep sediment out of the stream or river where the water source originates . Silt can add to issues with taste and visually looks unappealing to drink. Plus, it impacts aquatic animals. This further protects human and environmental health.

Trash containment: Build trash containment sites that will keep trash from washing into a nearby water supply leading to pollutants contaminating runoff with negative impacts to drainages, the stream, or river. With no centralized trash service in Kenya, finding ways to contain trash will improve water quality.

Pollution prevention techniques for solid waste and wastewater runoff management will provide protection for both human and environmental health. Use of phytoremediation along with specific plants for specific pollutants and root size will be utilized. This provides the basis for implementing raingardens and riparian buffers.